Social scientists have long discussed whether information has the potential to influence individuals' attitudes and perceptions toward social inequality. However, the impact of information on the cultural logics that individuals rely on to assess fairness has not been thoroughly explored. To address this gap, this paper employs two online experiments that integrate factorial surveys and informational treatments to investigate whether exposure to statistical and emotionally stimulating information about inequality in China affects the enactment of fairness principles. This presentation examines (1) the identification of fairness principles specific to this context, (2) the influence of information about inequality on the enactment of these principles, and (3) the empirical strategy that could enhance the study of cultural logics. Based on these findings, we will examine the implications for the malleability of logics in cultural sociology and the principles of fairness in the Chinese context. 

About the Speaker:

Francisco Olivos earned his PhD in Sociology from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He also holds a master's degree in Sociology and Social Research from Utrecht University and a master's degree in Sociology from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. His research interests lie in the intersections between social stratification, cultural sociology, subjective well-being, and quantitative methods. His work has been published in several reputable journals, including the British Journal of Sociology, Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, and European Societies. Recently, he was awarded a GRF grant to investigate the role of beliefs in the impact of institutions on subjective well-being across countries.

Departmental Seminar - Malleability of fairness principles and information about inequality in China

Date: 29 February, 2024

Time: 11:00AM – 12:00PM

Venue: CJT-9.29

Speaker: Prof. Francisco Olivos

Registration: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=92610